Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra told MLive.com his campaign for the U.S. Senate “is going to be all about jobs and the economy.”

In a telephone interview from his Washington, D.C. office, the Holland Republican said he and his wife, Diane, changed their mind about challenging U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow after calls from Republican supporters intensified in recent weeks.

“They really helped shape this decision we just made,” said Hoekstra, who announced his candidacy Wednesday by turning on his campaign website, “www.hoekstraforsenate.com.” He said an official announcement will follow in the coming months.

While some of his children are reluctant to see him take on another statewide campaign, Hoekstra said he is eager to get back on the campaign trail.

Last year's unsuccessful campaign for governor taught him many lessons that will transfer to the Senate campaign, said Hoekstra, adding that he has received calls of support from Gov. Rick Snyder and former Attorney General Mike Cox, his main rivals in last year's gubernatorial primary election.

“We learned a lot of lessons and I think that's going to help us in the Senate race,” he said.

Hoekstra said he also is confident he can raise enough money to challenge Stabenow, who already has $4 million in her campaign war chest as she prepares to run for her third six-year term.

Despite being outspent by Snyder's personal resources and criticism that he was lackluster in raising funds, Hoekstra said his gubernatorial campaign proved otherwise.

Wednesday's announcement reverses a decision he announced in April, when Hoekstra said he would not seek the Senate seat and concentrate on his Washington-based consulting business.

That changed in a series of family discussions over the past four weeks, he said.

“After a good deal of reflection, I've decided that I cannot sit on the sidelines while the President and U.S. Senate mortgage our children and grandchildren's future,” Hoekstra said in his announcement.

Hoekstra, 57, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992, when he challenged long-standing incumbent U.S. Rep. Guy VanderJagt. He drew attention to his grass-roots campaign by bicycling throughout the district.

Though his bicycle is out and his campaign logo features the image of a bicycle, Hoekstra said it hasn't been determined if it will play a role in his statewide campaign.